SANA: Press Notes and Photos For New J-Horror From JU-ON Creator Takashi Shimizu

Official Site: https://movies.shochiku.co.jp/minnanouta/ (Japan)

Shochiku has provided information and images for SANA (ミンナのウタ, Minna no Uta), the new J-Horror movie from Takashi Shimizu, creator of the internationally acclaimed JU-ON franchise. The movie opens in Japan on August 11.

Introduction

You'll be humming along with the music...

In 2004, Takashi Shimizu directed THE GRUDGE, the Hollywood remake of his hit horror film series JU-ON. It became the first film by a Japanese director to rank first at the U.S. box office! In recent years Shimizu has directed the much-talked-about "Terror Village" series, including IMMERSION (忌怪島, Imi Keshima, 2023). Now comes SANA, the latest work by the J-horror master.

The film stars the members of the dance and vocal group GENERATIONS, all playing themselves!

Synopsis

Jun Komori of GENERATIONS is a personality for a popular radio show. Before recording, he discovers a cassette tape labeled "Minnanouta" that had been left unattended in the radio station's warehouse since it arrived 30 years ago. Later, during the recording, he hears a disturbing noise and a voice saying, "Did you... receive... the cassette tape...? " He suddenly disappears while preparing for a live performance a few days later.

In order to solve the situation quickly and secretly, their manager, Rin, asks Gonda, a former detective, to investigate. He interviews all the members of GENERATIONS, and discovers that the missing Komori said he heard a strange melody, like a woman's humming, during a radio recording that he couldn't get out of his head. The other members also testified that they had seen the "spirit of a girl" during rehearsals.

With a time limit looming before the live performance, Alan Shirahama, Rin, and Gonda begin a search. The spirit turns out to be a junior high school girl named "Sana," and the "cursed melody" she plays starts a chain of terrifying events...

What on earth is happening to them?　What is the unimaginable ending that awaits them?

Details

Release Date: Friday, August 11, 2023 (Japan)
Release Information: Nationwide Roadshow
Running Time: 102 Minutes

Cast

GENERATIONS　
Alan Shirahama
Ryota Katayose　
Hayato Komori
Reo Sano 　
Mandy Sekiguchi 　
Yuta Nakatsuka　
Ryuto Kazuhara
　
Akari Hayami　
Tomoko Hoshi　
Hana Amano　
Marika Yamakawa
Makita Sports

Staff

Director: Takashi Shimizu<
Screenplay: Rumi Kakuta, Takashi Shimizu
Music: Utena Kobayashi, Yurie Minakata
Theme Song : "Minnanouta" by GENERATIONS (rhythm zone / LDH JAPAN)
Production: "SANA" Film Partners (Shochiku, TV Tokyo)
Planning/Distribution: Shochiku
Production Company: Booster Project "PEEK A BOO films"

About Shochiku Co., Ltd.

Shochiku traces its origins to 1895 when Takejiro Otani presented his first stage play. They also produced the first color motion picture in Japan, and have expanded into TV dramas, video contents, Kabuki presentation, theater operations, and real estate. The company has become a symbol of enduring tradition as the exclusive promoter of the Kabuki theater in Japan as well as widely known as the creator of the world’s longest-running feature film series, TORA-SAN. The company is making all possible efforts to develop business in various fields, including multimedia and co-productions, across generation, national, and cultural borders.